February is Black History Month and Muncie’s Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Team kicked off its annual celebration last weekend.  As IPR’s Ransom True reports, the event focused on hopes and dreams.

Chairperson Watasha Barnes Griffin opened the event with a moment of silence.

  “…we’re going to ask you to join us today in a moment of silence as we commemorate Dr. King, his life, his legacy, his hopes and dreams, as we think about our nation, our community, our hopes and dreams, successes and challenges, and our desire to be whole and healed. So please join me in a moment of silence, thank you.”

To continue showing hopes and dreams, kids from Representation Matters dressed to represent what careers they’d like to choose, including doctors, police officers, and football players.

Representation Matters is a Muncie youth organization facilitated by Juneteenth Muncie which intends to inspire youth to strive to be their best selves.

Leader Dorica Watson also left the audience with an African proverb.

“And if you didn’t hear anything that these babies said here today, I want you to remember this one. ‘The child that is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.’ So, if we want our community to be better, we have to be better.”

MLK Dream Team is also helping with a county-wide food donation for the month of February, with several local donation sites.

Ransom True is a news fellow with Ball State Public Media’s Public Media Accelerator student fellowships.

“The Martin Luther King Dream Team has partnered with Muncie Community Schools, Burris Laboratory School, Muncie Sanitary District, Minnetrista Cultural Center, and #christianministries to ensure equal access to food!”